OLYMPIA MOTOR SHOW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19092, 10 August 1925, Page 11

OLYMPIA MOTOR SHOW.

A COMPREHENSIVE DISPLAY.

AUTOMOBILES FOR 1925.

MANY FEATURES OF INTEREST

INCREASE IN ENGLISH CARS

Motorists, potential motorists and others for whom the automobile oxcicises a fascination, attended the opening of Auckland's second Olympia Motor Exhibition on Saturday evening, to the number ot over 350 C.. Housed in two sheds on the Pnnco's Wharf, tho exhibition occupies an area of acres. A display of neaily 200 motor vehicles is arranged under circumstances which aro a credit to tho motor trado. There is no crowding and the promenade aisles aro adequate for large crowds. Tho display is woithy of the inspection of everyone who can appreciate tho efficiency and utility of the modem automobile. About £IUO,UUO worth of cars are displayed over a stand frontage ot one nuio. L'ommetcial vehic.es occupy about one-tilth of tho space. The decorative scheme is most attiactively carried out in rainbow banners, beating the of the Auckland Motor Trade Association. The Auckland Automobiie Association occupies a stand in charge of tho information officer. Advice on road conditions and routes will ba supplied at this bureau. Another stand has been dovoted to the display of photographs of typical Now Zealand scenic resorts. Primarily, tho aim of tho show is to stimulate tho action of tha prospective purchaser in placing boforo him an opportunity to make telling comparisons. The competitive element in such exhibitions is necessarily very strong. Cars are criticised by the visitor very • minutely on account of the wido rango of choice. Comfort features appeal first to the novico, while an individual with mechanical experience Will first analyse the engineering merits. Interest in Demonstrations. Naturally, great interest was taken in demonstrations. Half-a-dozen working models formed a nuclous of attraction. In several cases the models are particularly instructive, and they servo to explain obscure mechanical principles to tho motorist who possesses no engineering knowledge. In inspecting the array of 162 cars, tho contemplative purchaser could not fail to be struck by the. wide range of choice offered in each prico class. Since the Olympia Exhibition in February, 1924, the majority of automobiles have fallen in price. This year, although tho total number of cars is much greater, the number of different makes displayed is 44, tho »ame 33 last year. Thirteen makes of cars ■which were represented at tho last show do not reappear, and in their placo aro thirteen makes moro or less new to the Auckland public. Even a hasty survey of Olympia reveals that English manufacturers are more widely represented this year. In 1924 there were 32 American and Canadian makes, 10 English and two Continental cars. At Olympia this year will be found 25 American or Canadian ears, 17 English and two Continental makes. Automobiles showing this vear rango in price from about £l6O to £I7OO. For Jess than £3OO no fewer than nine different makes aro offered, a rango of choice much wider than was available last year. Fivo of this number ;itre American four and five-seaters. Fully a dozen makes aro embraced in tho price class of from £3OO to £4OO, and several are six-cylinder vehicles. Whether American or English, they aro all available with comfortable coachwork for family nse. The selection 3s widest, in tho £4OO to £SOO price class, and nearly a scoro of different makes are «xhibitecL

Host Luxurious Oars. The visitor to Olympia should not mis 3 ■eeing tho three or four roosi expensive Cars. They aro the products of worldfamor.s designers and include every known luxury feature. In both tho English «nd American examples they embody many attractions denied to other cars on the ground of expense. The power plant in one of these cars is capable of an output of about 85 horse-power, and without stripping the body the vehicle can Rttain a speed of 70 miles an hour. The euperbiy-fmished and high-powered cars at Olympia ara, of course, not comparable wth the lighter vehicles in tho matter of benzine consumption. Twelve or thirteen miles to the gallon of petrol is ml that is claimed for some of the big cars. The largest automobile exhibited weighs over one and a-half tons, and measures nearly 17ft. over all. In contrast with tbis is a diminutive car just over nine feet in length and weighing seven and a-half hundredweight. Forty-five miles to a gallon of petrol is quite within its capabilities. Aithough touring cars predominate, .it is interesting to observe that a large Dumber of exhibitors are displaying closed models this year. The majority of tho English cars showing aro of the light two or four-seater type, with four-cylinder engines of from 10 to 12 horse-power. An occasional example of New Zealand coach work is seen, and in appearance it rank? equally with tho best imported bodies. Sporting typo bodies are not numerous, but thero aro two or three very fine samples. American manufacturers have shown a marked preference for dark-blue paintwork /or thoir 1925 cars. Both English and American 1925 cars •re showing with fuil balloon tyres/ and in contrast to the position at the last Olympia, it is only on a few stands that the high-pressure tyro is* now seen. Disc wheels are decidedly popular, and tho majority of stands carry at least one car to equipped. About 15 different makes aro showing with four-wheel brakes. Trucks and Motor-Cycles. In the commercial vehicle section, 51 trucks and chassis aro shown, comprising 16 different makes. Eleven aro of American or Canadian origin, and five are British. Among the exhibits aro several tip-trucks with hydraulic equipment. Dolivery vans aro shown in varying body styles. Tho omnibuses are particularly interesting in view of the obvious effort that has been mado to obtain great comfort. Eight popular makes of British and American motor-cycles are represented. They include both single and twin-cylinder machines suitable for solo or side car work. Oil Products and Tyros. Four firms have comprehensive displays of oil products. Samples of lubricating 011 in various grades aro shown, and automobile oil circulation systems are Illustrated on typical engines. Car and truck tyres are shown by four agencies. They vary in sizo from small motor-cycjo pneumatics up to giant tyres lOin. in cross_ section and 40in. diameter. Vulcanising equipment is also shown in considerable detail. The show will be open daily from 10.30 a.m. to 10 p.ir until next Saturday. Two high-class orchestras will render musical programmes, and iuncheon and tea rooms are located on the ground floor adjoining the commercial exhibits. Arrangements for tho parking of visitors' car 3at the entrance to the wharf aro under tho supervision of tho Harbour Board traffic officials.